Sometimes it is just as important to be lucky as it is to be good. Such is
the case for Shock center Ruth Riley, who was added to the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team
only after an injury created an open roster spot. Riley went on to win a gold
medal with her U.S. teammates. WNBA.com's "Photographic
Memory" asks players to look at a photo of themselves and talk about what
it captures -- what was going through their mind at that moment of the game and
what the photo reveals about their style. Here, Ruth talks about what it felt
like when that final buzzer sounded

Ruth
Riley and the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team celebrate their triumph over Australia in
the gold medal game. Doug Pensinger/NBAE/Getty Images

Q.
Seems like you guys had something to celebrate here. What moment does this photo
capture?"Yeah, we definitely seem pretty excited. This is where we
actually clinched the gold medal against Australia in Athens last summer."

Q.
As a player who has accomplished so much in her career already, where does this
rank as far as top moments in your life go?"Without a doubt, it is
one of the top memories I have in basketball. I have definitely been blessed and
fortunate enough to have a few celebrations in my career, but this one will stand
out."

Q. Did this feel like a coronation for your team since you
hadn't lost a game at all in the entire Games?"Being on the Olympic
team was special, but at that moment, knowing we had won, it was amazing."

Q. This was a team of both veterans and newcomers. What did you learn
spending so much time with people like Swoopes, Leslie and Staley?"You
can learn so much from those guys. They have done it all in their careers, yet
are still at the top of their game and the top of the sport. It was an honor to
be able to get to know them as people as well."

Q. And being there
with your Shock teammate, Swin Cash, must have been extra special as well.
"I was so happy for Swin. I know how hard she works because I can see it everyday.
Being able to accomplish something like this with her was great."

Q.
How badly did you want that gold? Can you even describe it?"The Olympics
is the pinnacle of sports, so winning a gold medal was a goal I had since I was
little and growing up."